Tipoff is scheduled for 8:00 PM ET TV: MSG (New York), FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin (FDSWI) Streaming: Fubo, NBA League Pass (blackout restrictions apply)
This Eastern Conference matchup pits a Knicks team fighting for a top-3 seed against a surging but shorthanded Bucks squad desperately clinging to play-in positioning. The Knicks enter as clear road favorites, especially with Milwaukee missing its superstar.
Injury Report New York Knicks
Out: Miles McBride (pelvic – core muscle surgery), Pacome Dadiet (G League – on assignment), Dillon Jones (G League – two-way), Kevin McCullar Jr. (G League – two-way) Rotation otherwise healthy and full strength.
Milwaukee Bucks – Severely depleted
Out: Giannis Antetokounmpo (right calf strain), Taurean Prince (neck – surgery), Alex Antetokounmpo (G League – two-way), Cormac Ryan (G League – two-way) No other major injuries reported, but the absence of Giannis is massive.
Recent Form Knicks (37-22): 6-4 in their last 10, currently on a 1-game losing streak after a 94-109 road loss at Cleveland (Feb 24). Strong wins include 105-99 at Chicago (Feb 22) and 108-106 vs. Houston (Feb 21). They rank top-10 in both offensive (117.1 PPG, 9th) and defensive efficiency, with elite rebounding (45.9 RPG, 6th). Road record: 14-14.
Bucks (26-31): Red-hot 8-2 in their last 10 and winners of 2 straight (most recently 118-116 vs. Cleveland on Feb 25 and 128-117 vs. Miami on Feb 24). Without Giannis they’ve shown surprising resilience behind Kevin Porter Jr., Ryan Rollins, and Bobby Portis. Home record: 14-13, but defensive rating slips noticeably without their two-way anchor.
Head-to-Head / Series History 2025-26 season (1-1 split):
Knicks have won 6 of the last 10 meetings overall (including playoffs). The Over has hit in both 2025-26 games, but recent contests at Fiserv Forum trend closer when Milwaukee has home energy.
Key Player Matchups
Jalen Brunson (NYK, 26.7 PPG, 6.1 APG) vs. Ryan Rollins / Kevin Porter Jr. (MIL): Brunson has torched Milwaukee in recent meetings (37 pts last time). Without Giannis’ help defense, expect heavy usage and pick-and-roll dominance.
Karl-Anthony Towns (NYK, 20.0 PPG, 11.7 RPG) vs. Bobby Portis (MIL, 13.2 PPG, 6.5 RPG): KAT’s size and shooting should overwhelm Milwaukee’s frontcourt. Towns is averaging a double-double and feasts on smaller lineups.
OG Anunoby / Mikal Bridges (NYK wings) vs. Milwaukee perimeter (Rollins, etc.): Knicks length and switching defense should harass Milwaukee’s guards, who lack Giannis’ rim protection.
Bench edge: Knicks have superior depth (even without McBride); Bucks rely heavily on Portis and Rollins to carry the load.
Betting Trends & Advanced Stats
Knicks are 22-8 at home but solid 14-14 on the road and 25-15 vs. Eastern Conference foes. They are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 as favorites.
Bucks are 8-2 straight-up in their last 10 but just 5-5 ATS; they struggle mightily without Giannis (covered only 3 of last 7 such games).
Knicks rank top-6 in net rating (+5.4); Bucks are negative without their MVP candidate.
The Under has hit in 6 of Milwaukee’s last 10 home games and in 7 of the last 10 head-to-head meetings when total is around 220-225.
Road favorites of 7+ points vs. teams missing their best player: Knicks 12-4 ATS in similar spots this season.
Game Odds
New York Knicks – 8.5
Milwaukee Bucks 220.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Thursday, February 26, 2026
Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 PM ET TV: YES (Nets), NBCS-BOS (Celtics), NBA League Pass Streaming: Fubo, NBA League Pass (blackout restrictions apply)
This Atlantic Division matchup features the league’s worst team visiting the East’s second-place squad in what should be a mismatch at the Garden. The Celtics have been one of the biggest surprises of the 2025-26 season, posting a top-5 record and elite offensive efficiency despite missing Jayson Tatum all year. The Nets, meanwhile, have been in full tank mode, sitting 14th in the East with the NBA’s second-worst record and a brutal six-game losing streak.
Injury Report Brooklyn Nets – Clean report
No players listed as out or questionable. Full roster available, including recent G-League recall Josh Minott.
Boston Celtics
Out: Jayson Tatum (right Achilles repair – long-term), Max Shulga (G League two-way), Amari Williams (G League on assignment) Core rotation otherwise intact and healthy.
Recent Form Nets (15-43): 2-8 in their last 10, currently riding a six-game losing streak. Most recent: L 110-126 vs. San Antonio (Feb 26). Brooklyn ranks near the bottom in defensive rating (115.0+ PPG allowed) and has lost 16 of its last 19 games overall. Road record is a dismal 7-22.
Celtics (38-20): 8-2 in their last 10 and 18-9 at home. Most recent: L 84-103 @ Denver (Feb 25) – their worst offensive output in weeks after a strong four-game win streak. Despite the Tatum absence, Boston still ranks top-5 in net rating and has the league’s second-best offense.
Head-to-Head / Series History 2025-26 season (Celtics lead 2-1):
Jan 23, 2026: BOS 130-126 (OT) @ BKN
Nov 21, 2025: BOS 113-105 vs. BKN
Nov 18, 2025: BOS 113-99 @ BKN
Boston has won 10 of the last 11 meetings dating back to 2023-24 and is 9-1 against Brooklyn since the start of the 2023-24 season. The Over has hit in two of the three 2025-26 matchups, but recent games at TD Garden have trended lower-scoring when Boston clamps down defensively.
Key Player Matchups
Jaylen Brown (BOS, ~29 PPG, MVP-caliber without Tatum) vs. Michael Porter Jr. / Ziaire Williams (BKN): Brown is carrying the offense at career-high levels and defends at an elite level. Porter Jr. (24.6 PPG leader for Nets) is Brooklyn’s primary scoring threat but will be overmatched physically.
Payton Pritchard (BOS, starting PG, career-high assists) vs. Egor Dëmin / Nolan Traoré (BKN rookies): Pritchard has thrived in the expanded role; Brooklyn’s young backcourt will struggle with his pace and shooting.
Neemias Queta / Kristaps Porziņģis remnants or bigs (BOS interior) vs. Nic Claxton (BKN, 12.6 PPG / 7.2 RPG): Claxton is the Nets’ best two-way player, but Boston’s depth and rebounding (strong without Tatum) should dominate the glass.
Bench edge: Celtics have far superior depth (Payton Pritchard, Derrick White, etc.); Nets rely heavily on Porter Jr. and Claxton with limited reliable scorers.
Betting Trends & Advanced Stats
Celtics are 25-10 ATS as home favorites and an incredible 20-5 ATS when laying 10+ points this season.
Nets are 8-25 ATS as road underdogs and 4-15 ATS in their last 19 games.
Boston is 16-4 straight-up and 13-7 ATS in its last 20 home games.
The Under has hit in 7 of Boston’s last 10 home games and in 5 of the last 7 meetings overall.
Brooklyn is 1-12 straight-up against teams with a winning record since January 1.
Game Odds
Brooklyn Nets 208.5
Boston Celtics – 18.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Thursday, February 26, 2026
Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 PM ET TV: ESPN (national), FanDuel Sports Network Detroit (FDSDET), FanDuel Sports Network Ohio (FDSOH) Streaming: Fubo, NBA League Pass (blackout restrictions apply)
This is a marquee late-February matchup between two of the East’s top teams. The Pistons sit atop the Eastern Conference with the league’s best record, while the Cavaliers are fighting for homecourt advantage in the playoffs. Detroit is 22-7 at home this season and has won 8 of its last 10 games overall. Cleveland has also been hot (8-2 in its last 10) but enters severely shorthanded on the road (17-12 away record).
Out: Donovan Mitchell (right groin strain), Max Strus (left foot – Jones fracture surgery), Riley Minix (G League two-way)
Questionable: Keon Ellis (left index finger fracture), James Harden (right thumb fracture), Dennis Schroder (right ankle sprain), Dean Wade (right ankle sprain)
Detroit Pistons
Out: Bobi Klintman (G League assignment), Chaz Lanier (G League assignment), Wendell Moore Jr. (G League two-way), Isaiah Stewart (league suspension) No other major injuries; core rotation intact.
Recent Form Pistons (43-14): Red-hot at home. Most recent: W 124-116 vs. Oklahoma City (Feb 25) – Cade Cunningham 29 pts/13 ast, Jalen Duren 29 pts/15 reb. They are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 and have the East’s best net rating (+7.9). Defense ranks top-5 (109.5 PPG allowed).
Cavaliers (37-23): 4th in East. Most recent: L 116-118 @ Milwaukee (Feb 25), W 109-94 vs. New York (Feb 24). They average a scorching 119.5 PPG (3rd in NBA) but are vulnerable defensively (115.1 allowed, 15th). Road struggles are amplified without Mitchell.
Head-to-Head / Series History 2025-26 season (1-1):
Oct 27, 2025: CLE @ DET → Cavaliers 116-95
Jan 4, 2026: DET @ CLE → Pistons 114-110
Historically Pistons lead all-time 134-109, but Cleveland dominated recent seasons (won 12 straight from 2022-early 2025). Detroit has now won 2 of the last 3 meetings and covered the spread in both 2025-26 wins. The Under has hit in 8 of the past 10 head-to-head games.
Key Player Matchups
Cade Cunningham (DET, ~25.4 PPG, elite playmaking) vs. Cleveland backcourt (Darius Garland + Schroder/Harden if active): Cunningham has been unstoppable at home. Cleveland’s guard defense is stretched thin without Mitchell.
Jalen Duren (DET, dominant interior) vs. Evan Mobley / Jarrett Allen: Duren is averaging a double-double and feasts on second-chance points. Cleveland’s bigs are excellent but will be worked on the glass.
Tobias Harris / Ausar Thompson (DET wings) vs. James Harden (if plays) / Dean Wade or Keon Ellis: Detroit’s length and athleticism on the perimeter should bother a banged-up Cavs attack.
Bench edge: Pistons depth holds up better; Cleveland’s rotation is decimated if multiple questionables sit.
Betting Trends & Advanced Stats
Pistons are 19-9 ATS overall and 33-13 as moneyline favorites (22-2 when -249 or shorter).
Cleveland is 24-26 ATS and just 6-6 as underdogs.
Pistons average 117.4 PPG scored vs. Cleveland’s 115.1 allowed → Detroit projects ~118 points.
Cleveland averages 119.5 PPG but faces Detroit’s top-5 defense.
Over/Under trends favor the Under (hit in 4 of Pistons’ last 7 and 8 of last 10 H2H). Average combined total in recent meetings ~220-225.
Home favorite trends: Pistons cover ~65% at home vs. teams missing star players.
Game Odds
Cleveland Cavaliers 227.5
Detroit Pistons – 6.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Thursday, February 26, 2026
Streets of St. Petersburg – St. Petersburg, Florida OnlyBulls Green Flag 150 Scheduled Green Flag: 12:22 PM ET (approx. 80 laps / 144 miles) Broadcast: FOX (national), MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Streaming: FOX Sports app / Fubo (select markets)
History is made this weekend as the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series competes on a street course for the first time in its 30+ year history. The inaugural OnlyBulls Green Flag 150 serves as the undercard to Sunday’s NTT IndyCar Series season opener on the same 1.8-mile downtown waterfront circuit, creating a rare crossover motorsports spectacle in sunny Florida.
Venue & Track Details Location: Temporary street circuit in downtown St. Petersburg, encircling Pioneer Park, the Mahaffey Theater (Duke Energy Center for the Arts), The Dalí Museum, and portions of Albert Whitted Airport runway along Tampa Bay. Track Type: Street course (asphalt/concrete mix with curbs, walls, and bumps typical of urban circuits). Track Length: 1.8 miles (2.897 km). Turns: 14 (mix of tight hairpins, medium-speed sweepers, and sharp braking zones; clockwise layout).
Key Features: Long frontstretch/start-finish straight on the airport runway leads into a brutal right-left chicane (Turns 1-2, a frequent crash spot). A prominent Bayshore Drive backstretch provides heavy braking and overtaking opportunities into Turn 10. The mid-section features technical esses and elevation changes, demanding precise throttle control and tire management. No long straightaways in the traditional sense beyond the front and back stretches; pit lane is narrow and strategically critical. Stages: 20/40/80 laps.
Expected Weather Conditions Mostly sunny to partly cloudy. Highs in the mid-70s to low 80s°F (24–28°C) by green flag, with track temperatures in the upper 80s to low 90s°F. Winds light (5–12 mph from the east/southeast). Precipitation chance 10–20% (possible isolated pop-up shower from Gulf influence, but primarily dry). Ideal for dry racing, though crews should monitor for brief moisture affecting grip on concrete sections. Overnight lows in the mid-60s°F.Race History Highlights
Inaugural event for the Truck Series at St. Petersburg — no prior winners or data. This marks the series’ first street race since short-lived experiments decades ago. The circuit is renowned from IndyCar (22nd running of the Grand Prix), where street mastery, wall avoidance, and strategy often decide outcomes. High attrition expected due to concrete barriers, tight corners, and the heavy trucks’ handling on bumpy surfaces.2026 Season Context & Recent Driver Forms
After two superspeedway-style races (Daytona opener and Atlanta), the Trucks head to the streets with Chandler Smith leading points after a win and strong consistency. Gio Ruggiero sits second with top finishes. Road/street courses will shake up the order, favoring road-course ringers, veterans with crossover experience, and aggressive setups.
Top Contenders & Driver Matchups
Shane van Gisbergen (Trackhouse Racing entry or similar ringer) –: Multi-time road-course dominator across series; expected to adapt trucks quickly.
Connor Mosack / Adam Andretti / other road specialists –: Up-and-coming or veteran ringers with street savvy.
Chandler Smith (points leader) –: Consistent early season; oval-to-road transition key.
Circuit of the Americas – Austin, Texas Scheduled Green Flag: 3:00 PM ET (approx. 65 laps / 156 miles) TV: The CW (national) | Radio: PRN & SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Streaming: NASCAR App / Fubo (select markets)
The 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (formerly Xfinity Series) hits its first road course of the season with the fifth running of the Focused Health 250 at the iconic Circuit of the Americas. This marks only the third race of the young season, shifting from the high-banked drafting of Daytona and Atlanta to the technical, elevation-changing twists of COTA’s newly configured National layout.
Venue & Track Details Location: Circuit of the Americas, 9201 Circuit of the Americas Blvd, Del Valle, TX (just southeast of Austin). Track Type: Permanent road course (NASCAR National layout – shortened configuration introduced in 2025). Track Length: 2.400 miles (3.862 km). Turns: 20 (mix of high-speed sweepers, tight hairpins, and elevation changes; the layout cuts out the long traditional backstretch for more fan-visible action).
Key Features: Massive elevation drop after the uphill frontstretch into the esses (Turns 1-5), a technical mid-section with the new Turn 6a/6b chicane shortcut, and a flowing final sector leading back to the long front-straight. No traditional “backstretch” in the new config — instead, constant cornering and braking zones reward car balance, tire management, and driver skill over raw horsepower. Pit road is long and strategically vital; stage breaks at Lap 20 and Lap 40. Rain tires are available if needed, but the forecast is dry.
Expected Weather Conditions Sunny to mostly clear skies. Highs in the low-to-mid 80s°F (27–29°C) by green flag, with track temps climbing into the mid-90s°F. Winds 10–13 mph from the south/southeast. Precipitation chance near 0–5%. Ideal dry conditions for full-speed road-course racing with minimal strategy disruption from weather. Overnight lows in the upper 50s–low 60s°F. Perfect for fans and crews.
Race History Highlights
Fifth running of the Focused Health 250 at COTA.
Recent winners under the new/shortened layout: Connor Zilisch dominated the 2025 edition in his JR Motorsports Chevrolet.
Road-course trends at COTA favor veterans and specialists (Shane van Gisbergen, road-course ringers, and drivers with strong sim/setup experience).
High attrition possible due to walls, curbs, and the tight new chicane; average winning speed ~85–90 mph in recent runnings. Multiple cautions typical from incidents in the esses or Turn 1.
2026 Season Context & Recent Driver Forms After two drafting-style races (Daytona and Atlanta), points leader Austin Hill (Richard Childress Racing) sits atop the standings with a win and strong consistency. Close behind are Sheldon Creed, Jesse Love, and Parker Retzlaff. Road courses traditionally shake up the standings, rewarding drivers who excel away from ovals.
Key Matchups to Watch
SVG vs. Zilisch: The ultimate road-course showdown — the New Zealand superstar (SVG) against the young gun who beat everyone here last year.
RCR duo (Hill/Love) vs. JR Motorsports (Zilisch/Allgaier): Two powerhouse organizations with the best road-course programs in the series.
Oval specialists vs. road ringers: Drivers like Creed and Parker Retzlaff must adapt quickly to the new chicane and elevation changes.
Rookie/Part-timer battles: Brent Crews (JGR debut), international talents, and one-off entries will test the walls early.
Betting Trends & Advanced Stats
Road courses in Xfinity: Favorites win ~55–60% of the time, but the new COTA layout has produced chaotic racing with big stage winners.
SVG has dominated recent road events across series; Zilisch is the defending COTA king.
Stage betting heavy on top road-course drivers for Stage 1/2 wins.
Unders on total cautions if dry (but expect 4–6 with the tight new turns). Top-5 finish props pay well on consistent veterans.
Historical COTA trend: Pole sitter or top-5 qualifier wins ~70% under similar configs.
Driver Odds
Shane Van Gisbergen – 130
Connor Zilisch – 110
Austin Hill + 1800
Sam Mayer + 2000
Justin Allgaier + 2000
Jesse Love + 2500
Sheldon Creed + 2800
Ross Chastain + 3000
Taylor Gray + 3500
Sammy Smith + 3500
Austin Green + 5000
Rajah Caruth + 6000
Nicholas Sanchez + 6000
William Sawalich + 7000
Carson Kvapil + 7000
Brandon Jones + 10000
Jeb Burton + 10000
Harrison Burton + 10000
Tyler Gonzalez + 20000
Ryan Sieg + 25000
Parker Retzlaff + 25000
Corey Day + 25000
Alex Labbe + 50000
Josh Williams + 50000
Jeremy Clements + 50000
Dean Thompson + 50000
Brennan Poole + 70000
Blaine Perkins + 70000
Baltazar Leguizamon + 70000
Austin J Hill + 70000
Anthony Alfredo + 70000
Sage Karam + 70000
Ryan Ellis + 70000
Preston Pardus + 70000
Patrick Staropoli + 70000
Lavar Scott + 70000
Kyle Sieg + 70000
Josh Bilicki + 70000
JJ Yeley + 70000
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, February 27, 2026
Streets of St. Petersburg – St. Petersburg, Florida Race Start: 12:29 PM ET (Green Flag) – 100 laps / 180 miles Broadcast: FOX (national), INDYCAR Radio Network, Peacock (streaming)
The 2026 NTT IndyCar Series roars to life with its traditional season-opening street fight on the waterfront of downtown St. Petersburg. This is the 22nd running of the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg (and the 18th as the official opener), featuring a deep 25-car field mixing veterans, street-course specialists, and several high-profile newcomers.
Venue & Track Details Location: Temporary street circuit encircling Pioneer Park, the Duke Energy Center for the Arts (Mahaffey Theater), The Dalí Museum, and a portion of Albert Whitted Airport runway along Tampa Bay waterfront in downtown St. Petersburg.
Track Length: 1.8 miles (2.897 km) Turns: 14 (5 left-handers, 9 right-handers) Configuration: Hybrid street/airport course with a long frontstretch start/finish on the airport runway, followed immediately by a sharp right-hander into Turn 1 and a quick left into Turn 2 (a notorious trouble spot where many drivers have lost positions or worse over the years). Two additional long straights (including the prominent Bayshore Drive backstretch) provide heavy braking zones and prime overtaking opportunities. The layout mixes tight, bumpy technical sections with high-speed straights, rewarding precise car setup, tire management, and bravery under braking. Pit lane is tight and strategically critical on this clockwise circuit.
Surface: Asphalt/concrete mix typical of temporary street courses – grippy when clean but can become slippery with rubbered-in racing lines or debris.
Expected Weather Conditions Race-day Sunday: Mostly sunny to partly cloudy, high near 77–81°F (25–27°C), low around 64–68°F overnight. Winds light (5–10 mph from the northeast). Precipitation chance 0–10% (drier than earlier in the weekend). Ideal dry conditions expected for the green flag, with track temperatures in the mid-90s°F range. Saturday’s qualifying saw higher rain risk, but Sunday looks perfect for full-speed racing and strategy plays. Monitor for any late Gulf breezes or pop-up showers common in early March
Florida Race History Highlights
Multi-winner legends: Josef Newgarden (2 wins), Will Power (2), Juan Pablo Montoya (2), Hélio Castroneves (2).
Recent winners: 2025 – Alex Palou; 2024 – Pato O’Ward; 2023 – Marcus Ericsson; 2022 – Scott McLaughlin.
Pole trends: Often set by Penske or Ganassi drivers; street-course mastery is key.
Notable stats: High attrition possible due to walls and tight corners; average winning speed ~95–100 mph; cautions frequently bunch the field for chaotic restarts.
Key Driver Matchups & Recent Forms (2026 Season Preview) The grid is stacked with 25 full-time entries. Defending champion Alex Palou (Chip Ganassi Racing) enters as the clear favorite after dominating recent seasons (four titles in five years). He won here in 2025 and brings unmatched consistency.
Favorites & Contenders
Alex Palou (#10 Chip Ganassi Racing) –: Street-course winner last year, supreme in traffic and tire management. Recent testing showed blistering pace.
Kyle Kirkwood (#27 Andretti Global) –: Street specialist (multiple wins on similar layouts in 2025). Aggressive and fast in the bumps.
Josef Newgarden (#2 Team Penske) –: Two-time St. Pete winner, hungry for a Penske rebound after a subdued 2025. Master of restarts.
Pato O’Ward (#5 Arrow McLaren) –: Breakthrough consistency in 2025; explosive qualifying speed and overtaking ability on streets.
Scott McLaughlin (#3 Team Penske) –: Former winner here; strong in qualifying and long runs.
Scott Dixon (#9 Chip Ganassi Racing) –: The Ice Man – six-time champ with unmatched experience; always a factor.
Others to watch: Will Power (veteran street ace), Christian Lundgaard (consistent riser), Marcus Ericsson (prior winner), rookies/debutants like Mick Schumacher, Romain Grosjean (return), and Caio Collet.
Driver Matchups to Watch
Palou vs. Penske trio (Newgarden/McLaughlin/Power): Ganassi vs. the most successful team in St. Pete history.
O’Ward & Kirkwood: Young guns battling for “next big thing” status on a layout that rewards daring.
Dixon vs. the field: Experience edge in traffic and fuel strategy.
Newcomers (Schumacher, etc.): Will they adapt quickly to the walls and bumps?
Betting Trends
Favorites dominate but value exists: Palou has won 4 of last 6 similar street/openers, but street courses produce upsets (Kirkwood, O’Ward recent winners).
Qualifying is crucial: Top-6 starters have won 70%+ of recent St. Pete races.
Overtaking & strategy: 3–4 long straights mean passing is possible; expect 4–6 pit stops and possible cautions creating chaos.
Trends: Unders on total cautions (dry conditions favor clean racing); Palou top-3 finish heavy favorite; head-to-head Palou over any single rival pays well.
DRIVER ODDS
Alex Palou + 300
Kyle Kirkwood + 450
Josef Newgarden + 600
Scott McLaughlin + 650
Pato O’Ward + 650
Scott Dixon + 1000
Christian Lundgaard + 1200
Will Power + 1500
Marcus Ericsson + 2000
Marcus Armstrong + 2000
Felix Rosenqvist + 2000
David Malukas + 2200
Romain Grosjean + 4000
Rinus Veekay + 4000
Alexander Rossi + 4000
Graham Rahal + 6000
Santino Ferrucci + 7000
Mick Schumacher + 7000
Louis Foster + 7000
Nolan Siegel + 8000
Kyffin Simpson + 10000
Dennis Hauger + 10000
Christian Rasmussen + 10000
Sting Ray Robb + 20000
Caio Collet + 20000
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Saturday, February 28, 2026
$135,000 Guaranteed – 1 1/16 miles (8.5 furlongs) – Dirt – For fillies and mares 4 years old and upward which have never won a sweepstakes other than state-bred or restricted. Scheduled Post Time: 4:15 PM Central Time (5:15 PM ET)Oaklawn Park is located at 2705 Central Avenue in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
This is the second running of the Trivista Overnight Stakes, a key late-winter stepping stone for fillies and mares eyeing graded stakes later in the meet (Azeri, Apple Blossom, etc.).
Expected Weather Conditions (Hot Springs, AR – as of race morning): Mild for late February with highs in the low-to-mid 60s°F (around 17°C) and lows in the upper 30s°F. Skies partly to mostly cloudy with a 60-70% chance of scattered showers or light rain possible during the afternoon. Winds light. Race-time temperatures (4:15 PM CT) should be in the mid-50s to low 60s°F. Track is currently listed as fast from morning training and prior days; any showers would likely keep it fast or at worst “good,” with no major slop expected unless heavier rain materializes late. Monitor Oaklawn’s official updates closer to post.
Track Conditions: Main dirt track – expected fast. Oaklawn’s main track has played typically fair to slightly speed-favoring this meet, but inside posts have been advantageous in two-turn races when the rail is good.
Full Field with Post Positions, Morning-Line Odds, Jockeys, Trainers, Weights:
PP
Horse
Age/Sex
ML Odds
Weight
Jockey
Trainer
1
Home Game
5YO Mare
12/1
117
Ramon A. Vazquez
Philip D’Amato
2
Nerazurri
4YO Filly
7/5
124
Cristian A. Torres
Mark E. Casse
3
Seraphia
4YO Filly
7/2
117
Erik Asmussen
Steven M. Asmussen
4
Decadent
4YO Filly
12/1
124
Francisco Arrieta
Kenneth G. McPeek
5
In Just My Heels
5YO Mare
8/1
124
Rafael Bejarano
Ron Moquett
6
Peignoir
5YO Mare
6/1
124
Luis Saez
Rodolphe Brisset
7
Rose Palace
7YO Mare
30/1
124
Jaime A. Torres
Tammy Hornsby
8
Gowells Delight
4YO Filly
9/2
124
Emmanuel Esquivel
Kenneth G. McPeek
Detailed Analysis of Each Horse, Jockey, and Trainer:
PP 1 – Home Game (Street Sense – Golden Artemis, 5YO Mare, 12/1, 117 lbs, J: Ramon A. Vazquez, T: Philip D’Amato) Southern California shipper making her Oaklawn debut. Last seen finishing 5th (beaten ~8 lengths) in the fall edition of the G3 Bayakoa at Del Mar while chasing a slow pace at long odds. She has tactical speed and the rail, so Vazquez may try to send her early to secure position. D’Amato is a top-tier trainer (especially with shippers), but this mare may find the company a bit deep off the layoff and cross-country trip. Recent form is modest; she’ll need a career-best effort to factor. Look for her to show early but potentially fade late.
PP 2 – Nerazurri (Protonico – Beautiful Liar, 4YO Filly, 7/5, 124 lbs, J: Cristian A. Torres, T: Mark E. Casse) The clear morning-line favorite and most logical winner. Has absolutely thrived at this meet: two wins and a strong 2nd in the G3 Bayakoa (Feb. 7) behind champion Nitrogen, finishing well clear of the rest of that field. She also won a similar overnight stakes here on New Year’s Day. Versatile (can press or stalk), loves the Oaklawn dirt, and gets a perfect inside post. Casse has been excellent with his stakes fillies this winter, and Torres (a meet leader) retains the mount. Last-race Beyer/speed figure was a career-best 88. She projects to sit a dream trip and is very tough to beat in current form.
PP 3 – Seraphia (Gun Runner – Temptress, 4YO Filly, 7/2, 117 lbs, J: Erik Asmussen, T: Steven M. Asmussen) Lightly raced but ascending daughter of Gun Runner. Brings improving Beyer figures into this spot and has the pedigree to handle the distance. The Asmussen barn dominates at Oaklawn (perennial leading trainer), and Erik Asmussen is a capable stakes rider. She has never won an open stakes, fitting the conditions perfectly. Expect her to be forwardly placed or stalking; at 7/2 she offers some value behind the favorite. Recent works and figures suggest she’s peaking at the right time.
PP 4 – Decadent (Girvin – One More Minute, 4YO Filly, 12/1, 124 lbs, J: Francisco Arrieta, T: Kenneth G. McPeek) McPeek’s first string of two. Smart runner-up in a local allowance in her seasonal debut (recent start), showing she’s fit and sharp second off the layoff. She won a first-level allowance here last March and has black-type potential. Arrieta is riding well at the meet. She’s a bit inconsistent but can improve with the expected pace setup. Solid for exotics at a square price; McPeek is 20%+ with second-off-layoff runners.
PP 5 – In Just My Heels (Midnight Lute – High Heels, 5YO Mare, 8/1, 124 lbs, J: Rafael Bejarano, T: Ron Moquett) Local veteran trained by meet stalwart Ron Moquett (who knows Oaklawn like the back of his hand). Competitive in recent allowance company but steps up in class here. Bejarano is a veteran stakes rider. She has shown some closing kick on this track. Figures to be mid-pack; needs a perfect trip to threaten the top trio but is a logical underneath horse in exactas/trifectas.
PP 6 – Peignoir (Mendelssohn – Beehive Hairdo, 5YO Mare, 6/1, 124 lbs, J: Luis Saez, T: Rodolphe Brisset) Consistent mare with a solid recent speed figure (85 in last). Brisset is having a strong meet, and Saez (multiple Eclipse Award winner) is always dangerous, especially from mid-pack. She has tactical versatility and should be stalking the pace. Live longshot chance to hit the board at 6/1; pedigree and form suggest she’ll handle the trip well.
PP 7 – Rose Palace (Palace – Roses Plus, 7YO Mare, 30/1, 124 lbs, J: Jaime A. Torres, T: Tammy Hornsby) The longest shot on the board. Older mare with lower recent figures (71 in last). She’s been competitive at the allowance level but this is a significant class hike. Torres is capable but the form suggests she’ll be outclassed. Best used only in superfectas or as a deep bomb.
PP 8 – Gowells Delight (Practical Joke – Hello Charlie, 4YO Filly, 9/2, 124 lbs, J: Emmanuel Esquivel, T: Kenneth G. McPeek) McPeek’s second entry and a very live closer. Multiple G2-placed last year; came off a layoff with three solid runs at this meet, culminating in a clear allowance win here on Feb. 7 (changed tactics to come from off the pace successfully). Posted a sharp 5-furlong work last weekend. Esquivel has been winning at a high rate. Outside post is fine for a closer; she’s the main danger to the favorite and should be flying late. Excellent exotic play.
Overall Outlook This is a high-quality overnight stakes with a logical standout in Nerazurri (#2), who has the best recent form, ideal post, and top connections. She figures to be heavily bet but is deserving. The McPeek duo (Decadent #4 and especially Gowells Delight #8) should handle the exotics, with Gowells Delight the stronger of the two as a closer. Seraphia (#3) adds depth at a square price. Pace looks moderate with limited early speed (Home Game may go), favoring stalkers and closers.
* ConnorMcDavid became the NHL’s first 100-point player in 2025-26 and joined elite company in the process. He became the third player in League history with nine career 100-point seasons and did so after hitting the mark for the sixth straight campaign (tied for the second-longest stretch in NHL history).
* Matthew Schaefer strengthened his case for the Calder Trophy after establishing the highest goal total by an 18-year-old defenseman in NHL history.
* Sportsnet programming carries three of Friday’s four slated games that features several teams looking to keep their playoff position after missing the postseason last year.
* Nine of 12 games Thursday were either tied or within a one-goal margin in the third period, which brought the 2025-26 total to 700 this season. The only other season in NHL history to hit the mark at this stage of a season (928 GP) is 2015-16 (727)
McDAVID JOINS ELITE COMPANY IN NHL HISTORY WITH NINTH CAREER 100-POINT SEASON
Connor McDavid (1-1—2) sparked an Oilers offense to an eight-goal showing against the Pacific Division-rival Kings and did so on a night he became the NHL’s first 100-point player in 2025-26 – a feat he accomplished in five other campaigns – when he assisted on Leon Draisaitl’s 30th goal of the season. McDavid, who reached the mark for the ninth time overall and sixth consecutive, overtook MarcelDionne (8) for the third-most career 100-point seasons in NHL history,trailing only WayneGretzky (15) and MarioLemieux (10).
* The 2025-26 campaign marks the fourth time McDavid has reached a triple-digit total in a single season in 60 games or fewer following 2020-21 (53 GP), 2022-23 (56 GP) and 2023-24 (59 GP). The only players to achieve the feat four or more times are Gretzky (13x), Lemieux (8x) and PhilEsposito (5x).
* McDavid (35-65—100 in 60 GP), who opened up a five-point cushion on Nathan MacKinnon (40-55—95 in 56 GP) and Nikita Kucherov (31-64—95) in the Art Ross Trophy race, eyes the award for the sixth time in his career which would tie GordieHowe and Lemieux for the second most in NHL history. A sixth career Art Ross Trophy would also guarantee the Oilers captain a 15th career individual award – a mark only four other players in League history have reached: Gretzky (31), AlexOvechkin (19), BobbyOrr (17) and Lemieux (17).
SCHAEFER EQUALS AGE WITH 18TH GOAL, BREAKS HOUSLEY’S RECORD
MatthewSchaefer matched his age by scoring twice during his first visit to Bell Centre in Montreal, netting his 17th and 18th goals to break Phil Housley’s NHL record for goals by an 18-year-old defenseman (single season or career). Schaefer’s performance – which saw him score twice in 55 seconds to erase a 2-0 deficit – came against last season’s Calder Trophy winner, LaneHutson, and after former Islanders blueliner Noah Dobson had tallied twice in his first contest against New York. It was the first time this season that two defensemen each had multiple goals in the same contest.
* Schaefer and Dobson joined their respective teams on the same day, June 27, 2025, as Schaefer was selected first overall by the Islanders in the NHL Draft and Dobson was traded from New York to Montreal.
* Schaefer (0:55) became the first 18-year-old defenseman in NHL history to score twice in less than one minute and the first player that age of any position to do so since Sidney Crosby (0:44 on Dec. 23, 2005). Those are the only instances of any 18-year-old scoring two goals in 60 seconds or less over the past 42 years.
* Schaefer (18-23—41 in 59 GP) also became the third 18-year-old defenseman in League history to hit 40 points (single season or career), afterHousley(17-40—57 in 66 GP) and Rasmus Dahlin (9-35—44 in 82 GP).
HURRICANES, BRUINS EARN PIVOTAL REGULATION WINS IN EAST SHOWDOWNS. . .
Four of the NHL’s hottest teams entering the Olympic break went head-to-head 717 miles apart, but only two concluded the night with two points and a regulation win. The Metropolitan Division-leading Hurricanes (37-15-6, 80 points) outlasted the Eastern Conference-leading Lightning (38-15-4, 80 points) in a clash between two of the NHL’s wins leaders since 2015-16, while the Bruins (33-20-5, 71 points) withstood a third-period rally from the Blue Jackets (29-21-7, 65 points) in a battle between two clubs in the mix for a Wild Card spot.
* NikitaKucherov (1-0—1) and JakeGuentzel (0-3—3) helped the Lightning erase 3-0 and 4-3 deficits, but SebastianAho (1-0—1) and SethJarvis (1-1—2) combined on the go-ahead goal in the third period as the Hurricanes extended their point streak to 11 games and moved into a tie, in terms of standings points, with Tampa Bay atop the Eastern Conference standings (TBL: 57 GP; CAR: 58 GP). Carolina is one of two teams to defeat Tampa Bay in regulation since Dec. 20 (also: CBJ on Jan. 24).
* The Blue Jackets brought their seven-game win streak to TD Garden with the hopes of narrowing the gap in the Eastern Conference Wild Card race but DavidPastrnak (0-1—1) factored on one of four Bruins goals to reach the 50-assist mark for the fourth straight season and help the hosts extend their home win streak to 10 games – one of Boston’s seven streaks of double-digit length since 1975-76.
. . . WHILE WILD CONTINUE STRING OF SUCCESS, DEFEAT DIVISION-LEADING AVALANCHE
Matt Boldy (2-2—4) factored on four of Minnesota’s five goals and Quinn Hughes (0-1—1) extended his point/assist streaks to 11 games as the Wild (35-14-10, 80 points) defeated the League-leading Avalanche (38-10-9, 85 points) and leapfrogged the idle Stars (35-14-9, 79 points) for second place in the Central Division. Minnesota, with an active six-game win streak and eight-game point streak, was averaging 2.81 goals per game (25th) before Hughes arrived to the ‘State of Hockey’ but the 2023-24 Norris Trophy winner has since helped the team produce an an NHL-leading (tied) 3.96 goals per game during his tenure.
* Boldy recorded his fifth career four-point game and tied Mats Zuccarello for the second most in franchise history behind MarianGaborik (7 GP). The 24-year-old, the first player in Wild history to record consecutive four-point games (also 3-1—4 on Feb. 4 at NSH), can become the sixth player in NHL history with three straight four-point outings on the road when Minnesota completes its back-to-back with a contest against Utah on Friday night.
* Hughes tied Mark Howe (11 GP in 1979-80 w/ HFD) for the second-longest point streak by a defenseman in his first campaign with a franchise behind Steve Duchesne (15 GP in1992-93 w/ QUE), and also tied DinoCiccarelli (11 GP in 1992-93 w/ DET) for the second-longest assist streak by any player in his first season with a franchise behind JudeDrouin (14 GP In 1970-71 w/ MNS).
CLOSE GAMES TOOK CENTER STAGE DURING 12-GAME SLATE
‘Close games’ was Thursday’s theme as nine of 12 contests were within a goal in the third period, which brought the total to 700 in 2025-26. The only campaign to feature more through this stage of a season (928 GP) is 2015-16 (727).
* Senators captain Brady Tkachuk (1-0—1) put his team up 1-0 but Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin (2-0—2) scored to pull his team even in the second period and then set a franchise record with his overtime goal as the Red Wings earned their ninth overtime victory of the season – tied with the Canadiens, Sharks and Wild for the most among all teams. In the process, Detroit (34-19-6, 74 points) leapfrogged the Canadiens (32-17-9, 73 points) and idle Sabres (33-19-6, 72 points) for second place in the Atlantic Division.
* Entering the third period tied 1-1, the Penguins (30-15-12, 72 points) scored three straight goals to secure the victory and maintain second place in the Metropolitan Division as Evgeni Malkin (0-2—2) passed Brett Hull (1,391) for 25th place on the NHL’s all-time points list. Malkin has totaled 77-124—201 in 149 games when Sidney Crosby is out of the lineup (1.35 P/GP) – an uptick from his career points-per-game rate of 1.11.
* After Filip Forsberg (1-0—1) opened the scoring for the Predators, Steven Stamkos (1-0—1) tallied one of the team’s three third-period goals as Nashville battled back from a 2-1 deficit in the final frame en route to its 17th comeback win of the season, which is the second most in the NHL behind Montreal (19). Forsberg hit the 25-goal mark for the ninth time in his career and passed Markus Naslund as well as Daniel Alfredsson (both w/ 8) for the second most by a Swedish-born player in NHL history (most, Mats Sundin: 15), while Stamkos netted his 611th career tally and surpassed Bobby Hull (610) for sole possession of 19th place on the NHL’s all-time goals list.
* The Rangers went up 2-0 but Matvei Michkov (2-0—2) scored to cut the deficit in half in the second period and found the back of the net in overtime to lift Philadelphia to its fifth multi-goal comeback win of the season – tied with Edmonton and Dallas for the second most among all teams behind Anaheim (8). Michkov recorded his 10th career multi-goal game and surpassed Peter Zezel (9 GP) for the second most by a Flyers player at age 21 or younger, behind only Eric Lindros (17 GP).
Friday’s four-game slate will see NHL action broadcast on NHL Network, across Sportsnet channels and on TVA Sports with three teams in action who currently hold a playoff spot after missing last season: Buffalo, Anaheim and Utah.
* The Sabres visit the Panthers riding an active seven-game road point streak (6-0-1 since Jan. 20). Should the Sabres extend the run to eight games, it would mark their longest road point streak since a franchise record-tying 10-game run in 2006-07. Buffalo, which currently sit in the first Wildcard spot, is trending toward its first playoff appearance since 2010-11.
* The Ducks welcomed Leo Carlsson back to the lineup Wednesday for the first time since Jan. 10, and the high-scoring forward recorded three points (1-2—3) to help propel Anaheim to a third straight victory. The Ducks, who sit third in the Pacific Division, are aiming to earn their first postseason appearance since 2017-18.
* The Mammoth welcomed a star forward of their own back to the lineup Wednesday, Logan Cooley, who recorded an assist while skating in his first game since Dec. 5. Utah is looking to qualify for the postseason for the first time after missing in 2024-25, in which they would join the other two most recent NHL franchises by participating in the playoffs within their first two seasons: Golden Knights (2017-18; 1st season) and Kraken (2022-23; 2nd season).
OMAHA, Neb. — The Omaha Supernovas, the world’s leading professional volleyball franchise, leaned on a 16-point night from opposite Emily Londot, but the Atlanta Vibe (6-6) pulled away for a 20-25, 25-20, 16-25, 20-25 win Thursday night before 8,014 fans on Kiewit Courtat CHI Health Center.
Londot recorded her highest point total since Feb. 5 at Dallas, hammering 16 kills on a .333 hitting-percentage while adding 12 digs and one assist. She was aided by outside hitter Reagan Cooper, who put down 11 kills and tied a career high with four blocks as part of a 15-point performance. Fellow outside hitter Brooke Nuneviller added six kills, nine digs and one block.
Middle blocker Kiara Reinhardt delivered another highly efficient night with seven kills on 12 swings for a .583 hitting percentage, keeping her season clip among the league leaders. The first-round pick out of Creighton also totaled six digs and two blocks. Toyosi Onabanjo matched her teammate with seven kills and added one block.
Setter Sydney Hilley dished out 36 assists and nine digs while contributing three kills, one block and one ace. Starting libero Elena Oglivie matched her output from her team debut with a team-leading 14 digs and six assists.
As a team, the Supernovas (7-7) hit .227 and finished with nine blocks, one ace, 60 digs, 51 kills and 47 assists.
Atlanta was paced by 21-point performances from opposite Aiko Jones and outside hitter Leah Edmond. Jones led all players with 19 kills to go along with one ace and one block, while Edmond totaled 18 kills on a .421 hitting percentage with three blocks. Former Omaha middle blocker Phoebe Awoleye added 14 points on 10 kills (.667) and four blocks.
The Supernovas begin a three-match road swing Sunday, March 1, against the league-leading Indy Ignite. First serve is set for 1 p.m. CST on CBS Sports Network and the Supernovas Radio Network.
Key Notes
Thursday marked Londot’s third double-double of the season and second straight.
Reinhardt has now hit .500 or better four times this season.
Cooper tied her professional career high with four blocks, previously set Feb. 1 at Grand Rapids.
Awoleye’s .667 hitting percentage set an opponent franchise record.
The Vibe improved to 5-1 all-time at CHI Health Center and 6-4 in the head-to-head series.
Omaha’s four-match losing streak is the longest in franchise history.
Set 1: Edmond opened the first set with a kill, but Atlanta followed with a service error. Cooper and Awoleye traded killsto keep the score tied. Awoleye added another kill, and Atlanta capitalized on a Supernovas violation to take a 4-2 lead. Londot hammered a back-row kill to help ignite Omaha’s offense. Aiko Jones and Nuneviller exchanged kills, but hitting and service errors plagued both teams before Londotfound the floor to tie the set at 6-6. A Supernovas service error opened the door for Edmond to record back-to-back kills and extend the Vibe lead to 9-6. Cooper responded with a kill for Omaha, but Edmond answered again. Reinhardt connected from the middle to trim the deficit to 11-9. The Supernovas committed two more service errors before Taylor Smith logged a kill and Jones followed with an ace to force an Omaha timeout at 14-10. Nuneviller and Cooper countered with kills to cut the gap to 14-12. Jones and Edmond powered through the block for three straight kills. Cooper stopped the run with a point of her own to make it 17-13 Atlanta. Jones then delivered back-to-back kills to force Omaha’s second timeout at 19-13. Hitting and service errors by Atlanta allowed the Supernovas to mount a 5-0 run, highlighted by a Hilley ace and a Cooper block. Awoleye halted the momentum with a block, followed quickly by an Averi Carlson ace to push the Vibe lead to 21-17. Londot added two kills late, but a Jones block gave Atlanta set point. An Onabanjo attack sailed wide to seal a 25-20 set-one win for the Vibe.
The Supernovas hit .205 in the set with one block and one ace. Cooper and Londot shared the team lead with four kills apiece, each hitting .333 or better. Atlanta hit .306 with three blocks and two aces, as Edmond led the way with five kills on a .556 clip.
Set 2: A service error opened the second set for Omaha, but Reinhardt responded with a pair of kills from the middle. Jones and Onabanjo traded kills before Smith and Edmond combined for back-to-back points to give Atlanta a 5-4 edge. The Supernovas regained momentum with a Nuneviller kill, an Atlanta hitting error and a Hilley block to fuel a 3-0 run and a 7-5 lead. Edmond, Carlson and Jones answered with three consecutive kills to reclaim a 9-7 advantage. Hilley slipped in a setter dump, and a Cooper block tied the set at 9-9. Jones and Edmond combined for the next three points to push Atlanta back ahead 12-9. Cooper’s cut shot found the floor, and Reinhardt denied an Atlanta attack to tie the set again at 12-12. An Edmond tip produced a sideout, but the Vibe committed back-to-back errors to hand Omaha a 14-13 lead. Reinhardt recorded a kill between two Awoleye points to keep the score tied at 15-15. Hilley sparked a 4-1 run with a kill, followed by a Vibe error and two Londot kills to force an Atlanta timeout at 19-16. Madolyn Isringhausen recorded a kill out of the break, but Cooper and Reinhardt capitalized on overpasses to push the lead to 21-17 and prompt another Vibe timeout. After an exchange of errors, Nuneviller dropped in an off-speed shot before Londot gave Omaha set point with a well-placed tip. Londot sealed the set with a swing off the block for a 25-20 win, tying the match at one set apiece.
Omaha hit .467 in the set with three blocks. Londot led with five kills on six swings for a .833 percentage. Atlanta hit .184 with one block, as Edmond again led with five kills.
Set 3: Awoleye opened the third set with a kill from the middle, answered by a Reinhardt finish. Awoleyetraded points with Londot before recording her third point of the set with a block. Edmond found the floor from the back row, and Onabanjo responded with two middle kills to tie the score at 4-4. Cooper recorded a block, but an Edmond kill and an Omaha net violation gave Atlanta a two-point edge. Cooper and Reinhardt combined for consecutive blocks to reclaim the lead. Edmond answered with a tip to tie the score, igniting a 3-0 run capped by another Awoleye block to force a Supernovas timeout at 10-7. Londotsided out immediately after the break. Awoleye and Edmond added kills for a 12-8 lead before consecutive Atlanta errors trimmed the deficit to two. Jones and Onabanjo exchanged kills before Smithtooled the block, followed by a Jackie Moore overpass kill and an Onabanjo error to extend Atlanta’s advantage to 16-11 at the media timeout. Smith added a tip out of the break to continue the run. TeBrake recorded a kill for Omaha to make it 17-12. Moore converted another overpass before Cooper responded with a deep-right kill and added another from the back court. Londot squeezed in a kill through the block, but Jones answered. Smith earned set point, and Jones finished the set, 25-16, giving Atlanta a 2-1 match lead.
Omaha hit .091 in the set with three blocks, as Onabanjo and Londot led with three kills apiece. Atlanta hit .394 with four blocks, while Edmond and Jones shared the set lead with five kills each.
Set 4: Nuneviller opened the fourth set with a back-row kill, followed by a Supernovas service error. Londot answered with a kill before Awoleye converted from the middle. An Atlanta service error was offset by a Jones kill to tie the set. Londot and Onabanjo recorded consecutive kills to give Omaha a 5-4 lead, but back-to-back Supernovas errors returned the advantage to Atlanta. Onabanjo and Jones traded kills before Edmond’s point sent the Vibe into the media timeout with an 8-6 lead. Edmond extended the margin to 11-8. Reinhardt and Cooper posted kills, but service errors continued to hinder Omaha as Atlanta maintained a 13-10 edge. Hilley executed a behind-the-back setter dump, and Onabanjo followed with a block to pull within 13-12. Smith sided out for Atlanta, Jones added another kill, and an Edmond block pushed the lead to 16-13 at the media timeout. Nuneviller opened play with a kill from the left side, mirrored by Edmond. Londot continued to apply pressure with a cross-court kill to make it 19-16. She added another deep swing, but the Vibe answered with back-to-back points to extend the lead to 22-17. Cooper recorded a kill before Smith sided out. Omaha scored consecutive points on an Atlanta error and a Nuneviller block, but Jones earned match point. Carlson finished the match with a block to secure the 25-20 set win.
The Supernovas hit .179 in the final set with two blocks, as Londot led with four kills. Atlanta hit .200 with two blocks, and Jones recorded a set-high six kills.
NEWARK, NJ – The Montréal Victoire extended their winning streak to four games and moved into a tie for first place in the standings, with Ann-Renée Desbiens making 34 saves in a 4-1 win over the New York Sirens at Prudential Center on Thursday night. In the PWHL’s first post-Olympics game, Montréal jumped out to a fast start, scoring three goals in the first 10:07 — on three of their first four shots. Dara Greig struck first for the Victoire, notching her second goal of the season just 5:00 into the first period. Jade Downie-Landry followed 47 seconds later to give Montréal an early 2-0 lead, and rookie Skylar Irving added an unassisted marker less than five minutes later, giving the visitors a 3-0 advantage. The Sirens, who outshot Montréal 10-5 in the first period, got on the board at 5:57 of the second period when rookie Casey O’Brien scored on the power play, her fifth goal of the season, cutting the lead to 3-1. Montréal regained their three-goal advantage early in the third when forward Lina Ljungblom scored her first of the season — and second point of the night — just 3:43 into the frame with a power play marker. Laura Stacey collected the primary assist on the goal, her second of the game, and became the eighth player in league history to reach 50 career points. Despite being outshot 35-22, Montréal held on behind Desbiens’ tenth win of the season. Sirens goaltender Kayle Osborne allowed three goals on six shots — rookie Callie Shanahan came in and stopped 15 of 16 in relief. The Victoire share first place with the Boston Fleet, who have two games in hand, while New York has lost four in a row and remain in fourth place.
QUOTES
Victoire Head Coach Kori Cheverie on the play of the team’s defenders: “I did like the confidence that our defender’s core played with tonight, and it was nice for them to get those reps and get the rust off a little bit. They were big contributors to our offense, our puck moving ability, keeping pucks in at the blue. So, I really liked what they brought tonight.”
Montréal forward Hayley Scamurra on returning to the PWHL following the Olympics: “Having the PWHL is huge right now because of all that momentum. In years past, once the Olympics were over people had nothing to see for another four years, or a World Championship. I just think we’re really excited to come back to our markets and play our game, and I know we probably had a lot of new viewers. I think the key is to just keep doing what we’ve been doing and keep putting a good
product on the ice.”
New York Head Coach Greg Fargo on what he saw after the Sirens went down three goals in the first period: “I think [it was a] slow start. You know, we had some moments in the first period that we liked, and there was that stretch there for six or seven minutes where we got away from some of our habits, and they were able to capitalize on those looks that they got. It’s unfortunate, but we’ve got to be ready to play.”
Sirens forward Sarah Fillier on the momentum women’s hockey and the PWHL gained from the Olympics: “I mean, I think it already has… gotten a boost from the Olympics. If you watch the gold medal game, I think it’s one of the best hockey games that we’ve played against the U.S. — it might have been the best hockey game in the whole tournament. So yeah, we’re just trying to draw new fans, draw international fans, grow in our markets. It’s always nice to come back to our New York fans and we’re always trying to draw in bigger crowds.”
NOTABLES
Montréal has won four straight games since losing to New York in Washington D.C. on Jan. 18. They are the first team in the PWHL this season to string together two four-game winning streaks, previously winning four straight from Nov. 25 to Dec. 20.
New York has lost four straight games since their Takeover Tour win over Montréal. They are the first team in the PWHL this season to post two four-game losing streaks, previously dropping four straight from Dec. 3-21.
The Victoire have won consecutive games by three-goal margins (3-0 vs. Toronto on Jan. 28) for the first time in team history. Minnesota is the only other team in the PWHL to achieve the feat this season, doing so on two different occasions.
Montréal’s three goals in the first period tied for the most scored by any team this season. This was the second time New York has surrendered three goals in the opening frame.
The Victoire went 1-for-2 on the power play to improve their season efficiency to 20.9%, now the league’s highest percentage. They have scored at least one goal in each of their last three games with a player advantage.
Montréal registered a season-low 22 shots on goal, 10 fewer than their season average. New York has outshot their opponents in 10 of their 17 games but have only won three such games.
Ann-Renée Desbiens is the first goaltender this season to record 10 wins. The Canadian Olympic silver medalist has allowed one or fewer goals in nine of her 14 starts, including three with more than 30 saves. She improved her league leading goals-against-average to 1.14 and save percentage to .956. Her 34 saves are the most she has made in regulation this season.
Laura Stacey’s second assist of the game brought her career point total to 50 (23G, 27A) in her 66th career regular-season game, becoming the eighth PWHL player to reach the half-century points mark. The Olympic silver medalist now has eight assists on the season, moving into a tie for fourth in the league in the category. Her assist total through her first 16 games this season matches her output from the 2024 season in 23 games and is three shy of her 2024-25 total in 27 games.
Jade Downie-Landry recorded her first point as a member of Montréal in her ninth game with the team after missing the team’s first seven games of the season on LTIR. The game-winner was the fourth of her career, with her previous GWG coming as a member of the Sirens against the Victoire on Apr. 1, 2025. The forward, who was a member of the Sirens for her first two PWHL seasons, snapped an 11-game point drought with the tally.
Downie-Landry appeared to have scored her second goal of the night at 3:37 of the second period, however, following video review with the on-ice officials in consultation with the PWHL Central Situation Room, the goal was disallowed due to goaltender interference.
Lina Ljungblom recorded her first two points (1G, 1A) of the season for Montréal in her seventh appearance, after missing the team’s first nine games while on LTIR. The Swedish Olympian recorded three points in Milan but snapped a 12-game PWHL regular-season pointless drought dating back to the 2024–25 season, with her previous point coming 346 days ago (Mar. 18, 2025).
Dara Greig has points in consecutive games for the first time in her PWHL career after tallying an assist before the Olympic break (Jan. 28 vs. Toronto). Tonight’s tally was the second goal of her career, coming in her 45th PWHL game, with both of her career goals scored this season. Her first came on Dec. 20 vs. Vancouver.
Casey O’Brien scored her fifth of the season and is now tied for first in rookie scoring alongside teammate Kristýna Kaltounková and ranks eighth in overall league scoring with 12 points (5G, 7A). The Sirens forward is riding a four-game point streak, a new career high. She leads all rookies with three power-play goals, tied for second among all skaters in the category. O’Brien now has points in nine of her last 11 contests.
Skylar Irving recorded her first career PWHL goal in her 14th career game. The rookie forward now has three points (1G, 2A) in her last four games after recording one point in her first ten games with the Victoire.
Natálie Mlýnková recorded her third assist of the season and now has seven points (4G, 3A), moving into fourth in team scoring and tied for eighth in PWHL rookie scoring. After leading Czechia in Olympic scoring, the forward now has points in back-to-back games for the third time this season — she has yet to record a three-game point streak.
Shiann Darkangelo recorded her second assist of the season in her 16th game. The forward, who joined the Victoire ahead of the 2025–26 campaign, has points in back-to-back games for the first time as a member of Montréal and now has five points (3G, 2A) on the season. She also posted a 52.6% face-off success rate, marking her fourth consecutive game above 50% and the 12th time this season she has been above that mark.
Nicole Gosling has assisted in consecutive games and ranks fourth among rookie defenders in the category with five. All six of her PWHL points have come in nine games since the calendar turned to 2026.
Sarah Fillier recorded the tenth assist of the season, moving into sole possession of second place in the category among all PWHL players. The Olympic silver medalist, who tied for the league scoring lead as a rookie last season, sits second in team scoring (1G, 10A), one point shy of team co-leaders O’Brien and Kaltounková, and has seven assists in her last six games.
Maja Nylén Persson has recorded points in back-to-back games for the first time this season (2A) and the third time in her PWHL career. The Swedish Olympian now has five points (1G, 4A) in 16 games. Her assist total matches her 2024–25 output, and she is one point shy of equaling her total points from last season, in 23 games played.
Kayle Osborne made her league leading 16th start of the season and was pulled for the first time in her PWHL career. Backup Callie Shanahan made her second appearance of the season after debuting on Jan. 20.
Marie-Philip Poulin was scratched from the Victoire lineup for the first time this season and is listed day-to-day with a lower-body injury. Erin Ambrose, placed on LTIR earlier today, missed her second game of the season. Amanda Boulier and Kati Tabin served as alternate captains in their place.
Jincy Roese missed her first game of the season on the Sirens blue line due to illness.
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